Bilge drain for boats



June 3, 1947. c, L, UN N' 2,421,479

BILGE DRAIN FOR BOATS Filed May 21, 1946 A? X M, 77"

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Patented June 3, 1947 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,421,479 'BILGE DRAIN FOR BOATS Claude L. Buntcn, Rawlins, Wyo. Application May 21, 1946, Serial No. 671,288

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bilge draining device for boats, and is more particularly adaptable to motor boats of relatively light draft and relatively high speed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which employs the force created by the movement of the boat through the water to create a suction to draw the bilge water from the boat.

Another object is to so construct the device that it will have but one, trouble-free, moving part, and so that when not in use there will be no projection from, or, depression in, the skin of the boat to create friction or resistance.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the bottom of a boat, illustrating a side view of the invention in place therein in the closed position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough,

illustrating the device in the open or draining position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved bilge drain in the closed position; and

Fig. 4 illustrates the improved bilge drain arranged for general suction purposes.

In the views of the drawing, the bottom of a typical boat is designated by the numeral Ill.

The improved bilge drain consists of a floor plate ll designed to be inset in the floor ID to a position flush with the bottom surface thereof. The plate II is provided with a peripheral flange l2 which rests upon the floor l and is secured thereto by means of suitable attachment screws l3 A conical shell l4 arises from the plate II with its axis rearwardly inclined. A cylindrical bearing sleeve l5 extends upwardly from the apex of the conical shell l4 on the angle of, and in alignment with, the axis thereof. The interior of the conical shell I4 is hollow to provide a conical socket 23 with its axis coinciding with the axes of the shell l4 and sleeve IS. The shell I 4 is cut away at the top side to provide an open throat 24 communicating with the socket 23.

A rotatable cone valve I 6 is mounted in the 2 conical socket 23. The bottom of the valve l6, indicated at I1, is cut off at an incline to the axis of the shell l4 and sleeve I5 50 that, when in the closed position of Fig. 1, the bottom I! will be in perfect, smooth alignment with the bottom of the plate I l. The angle of the bottom provides a long side and a short side on the valve l6 positioned opposite each other.

The cone valve I6 is provided with a valve stem [.8 extending axially therefrom. The stem l8 extends through the sleeve I5 and projects from the top thereof. The stem 1 8 terminates in a handle hub l9, from which an operating handle 20 projects. The hub i9 is secured on the extremity of the stem 3 by means of an attachment screw 2|. A compression spring 22 constantly urges the hub l9 away from the sleeve I5 so as to maintain the conical valve [6 in close, sealed contact. with its conical socket 23.

It can be readily seen that, when the handle 20 is in the position of Fig. l, the angularly cut conical valve [6 will completely fill the socket 23 and align perfectly with the bottom of the plate H and with the boat bottom I0 to form a perfectly smooth surface. The throat 24 is closed by the rounded side of the valve I6.

If the handle is now rotated to the position of Fig. 2, it will rotate the Valve IE to the position of Fig. 2, causing the long side thereof to project downwardly from the bottom of the boat, and causing the short side thereof to open the throat 24.

Assuming the boat is traveling in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2, a pressure area will be created ahead of the rounded surface of the valve I6, and an area of partial vacuum will be created behind the flat bottom l1, due to the swirl of the water around the valve [6. This partial vacuum will suck any bilge water present in the boat downwardly through the open throat 24, and if there is no water therein, will suck air through the throat. As soon as the bilge water has been eliminated, the valve can be rotated back to the position of Fig. 1, providing a smooth, frictionless bottom surface on the boat.

The device can be arranged for general suction purposes as shown in Fig. 4. For this use a tube 25 is formed on, or attached to, the conical shell l4 over the throat 24. The tube 25 carries a hose nipple 26 to which a suction hose 2'! is attached. The hose can be used for sucking water from any desired place and discharging it through the bottom of the boat.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A bilge draining device for boats comprising: a plate arranged to be inset in the bottom of a boat flush with the outer surface thereof; a conical valve seat extending upwardly from said' -bottom surface into said plate at an angle to the vertical; a conical valve seated in said seat, the axis of said valve corresponding to the inclined axis of the seat, the bottom of said valve,'when in one position, being in alignment with the bottom of said plate, the incline of said conical valve providing a long and a short side thereon; a throat opening formed in the upper side of said plate and communicating with said valve-seat; and means for rotating said valve so that the long side thereof may cover said throat, and so that the'shortside'thereof may expose said throat.

2. A bilge draining device for boats comprising: a plate arranged to .be'inset "in the bottom of a boat flush with the outer surface thereof; .a conical valve seat extending upwardly from said-bottom surface into said plate at an'angle to the vertical; a conical valve seated in said seat, the axis of said valve corresponding to theiinclined axis of the seat, the bottom of said valve, when in one position, being in alignment with .the bottom of said plate, theinclineof said conical valve providing along and a short side thereon; a

4 throat opening formed in the upper side of said plate and communicating with said valve seat; a valve shaft extending axially from the apex of said valve; an inclined bearing sleeve supporting said shaft; and an operating handle mounted on the upper extremity of said shaft.

3. A bilge draining device for boats comprising: a plate arranged to be inset in the bottom of a boat flush with the outer surface thereof; a conical valve seat extendingupwardly from said bottom surface into said plate at an angle to the vertical; a conical valve seated in said seat, the

axis of said valve corresponding to the inclined axis ofithe seat, the bottom of said valve, when in one position, being in alignment with the bottom of said plate, the incline of said conical valve providing a long and a short side thereon; a throat opening formed in the upper side of said plate and communicating with said valve seat; a valve shaft extendingv axially from the apex of said valve; an inclined bearing sleeve supporting saidishaft; an operating 'handlemounted on the upper extremity of said shaft; and spring means acting to urge said valve into said conical seat.

CLAUDE L. BUN'IEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 'Sobolew 7 June 3, 1930 Number 

